Jags Fare Well Statistically In Sun Belt Rankings
Defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer talks with the defense to make adjustments. The Jags rank second in the Sun Belt in total defense through three games.
Statistically the Jags stack up well in the Sun Belt through three games. They are fourth in scoring offense (31 points per game) behind Troy (44.7), Arkansas State (37.3) and Louisiana-Lafayette (37.9). They are fifth in scoring defense with a 28.3 points per game allowed behind Texas State (9.0 through 2 games), Lousiana-Monroe (21.0), Troy (25.0) and Arkansas State (27.7).
The Jags are fifth in total offense with an average of 404.7 yards per game. They trail behind Troy (547.3), Arkansas State (544.3), Western Kentucky (435.7) and Louisiana-Lafayette (421.3). Behind the Jags are Louisiana-Monroe (387.0), Georgia State (328.7) and Texas State (307.5).
South Alabama ranks in the bottom half of the Rushing offense totals in sixth place with 166.3 yards per game. They trail ASU (295.7), ULL (239.3), Troy (179.7), WKU (177.3) and ULM (171.3). Behind the Jags is Texas State (157.5) and Georgia State (79.3).
The Jags passing offense ranks fifth in the conference with an average of 238.3 yards per game. They rank behind Troy (367.7), WKU (258.3), Georgia State (249.3) and ASU (248.7). Behind the Jags are ULM (215.7), ULL (182.0) and Texas State (150.0 through two games).
The Jags are third in total defense allowing an average of 372.0 yards per game. They trail only Texas State (313.5 through two games) and Louisana-Monroe (330.3). Behind South is Troy (377.7), WKU (405.0), Arkansas State (418.3), ULL (427.0) and Georgia State (470.3).
They rank second in rushing defense with 108.0 yards per game allowed on average. They only trail TexasState (34.0 through two games). Behind the Jags are: Troy (116.7), ULM (138.0), ASU (141.0), ULL (194.0), WKU (200.0) and Georgia State (150.3).
USA ranks sixth in passing defense with 264.0 yards per game allowed. They trail ULM (192.3), WKU (205.0), GSU (220.0), ULL (233.0), and Troy (261.0).
The Jags also ranks second in the conference behind ULM in kickoff returns with an average of 27.4 yards per return. They are third in punt return average with 6.8 yards per return. They rank second in punting with a 37.1 average trailing only Troy who averages 40.7 yards per punt.
South Alabama is tied for first with four interceptions. They tied for second in sacks with 8 only trailing Troy who has 9.
The Jaguars held their final practice of the week prior to three days off for the players. Their open date will let them get some rest heal those normal bumps and bruises that occur throughout the season.
This is a great time for their bye week as South Alabama is preparing for Tennessee on September 28 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. But it will also give the coaches a chance to hit the road and do some recruiting after their back-to-back wins against Tulane and Western Kentucky.
The practices this week have been mostly focused on fundamentals but they have started implementing their gameplan for Tennessee to give them a headstart on next week.
Head coach Joey Jones does not know how the off time will impact the team, but did say this to AL.com, “They better come back ready to go because (we’ve got) Tennessee coming up and Troy and on down the line. We’ve got a bunch of good teams to play so we better be ready. And I think they will. We’ll find out Sunday though, so they better be ready. We’re going to get them ready.”
Wednesday’s practice lacked some enthusiasm Jones thought. He ranked it as only an above-average practice. They worked on only fundamentals on special teams. Tackling on defense. Though they do work on fundamentals all through the season, they are placing more emphasis on it and it consumed more of their practice time this week.
Jones said that most of their problems this season has stemmed from some sort of breakdown of fundamentals such as tackling. However, the Jags did a wonderful job tackling when they faced WKU last Saturday. They held their powerful running back in check all game.